Fallkniven F1 or RAT-5

I have a Rat 5 and Fallkniven S1. The Rat is in the trunk of my car in my emergency kit, but the S1 accompanies me into the woods almost every weekend when I go hiking. I like everything about the S1 better than the Rat.

The last post in this thread from the OP was on March 15. It would be interesting to hear from him now that he's had the knife for almost a year.
 
Old Painless said:
Elen,
Wow. That was alot to read. I can see your point. Now I understand that view and I think I am converted. But I still love my HR and will use the choil anyway. But I see your point -- If I want to be closer to the tip, I might as well have a shorter blade. If I want a longer blade, I might as well have it all be a cutting edge rather than 1/4 of it being a choil.
Thanks.
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This is a highly subjective area. Elen and I have agreed to disagree. I find choils on large choppers to be useless. But on small to medium blades, they are perfect. I find myself choking up on smaller blades for more control for about 90% of my cutting. The choil allows me to get my index finger and thumb right up next to what I am cutting, as well as keeping the width between my index finger and thumb to an absolute minimum, which, for me, is essential to comfort (elbow injury). It gives much greater control and precision, and also give my index finger a "stop" to help keep my hand from riding up on the blade.

So yes, I absolutely look for a knife with a well designed choil. The HR is a great example, although I really like my Bandicoot also. YMMV.
 
elkins45 said:
I have a Rat 5 and Fallkniven S1. The Rat is in the trunk of my car in my emergency kit, but the S1 accompanies me into the woods almost every weekend when I go hiking. I like everything about the S1 better than the Rat.

The last post in this thread from the OP was on March 15. It would be interesting to hear from him now that he's had the knife for almost a year.
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Well, for your information, I love the knife! I've taken it on several camping and hiking trips and it performs great! I love the convex grind, and I can shave a nice amount a tinder if I find dry wood anywhere. I would have been just as pleased with the F1.

It also turns out I very much dislike choils. I have a Spyderco Native that I recently purchased, and although the grip and the knife are great, I could do without the choil. Everytime I grip the knife fully and cut something it goes straight into the choil and gets stuck, and I can only imagine it being a bigger problem on a bigger knife. I'm glad I went with the S1.
 
got both

the F1 is far superior imo

altho they are actually just different knives not quite designed for the same purpose/people
 
Elen said:
I would go with the F1. I don't think relying on a knife against mountain lions is a very good idea - bring a firearm if you can. If you can't, then I don't think one inch of blade length is going to make an enormous difference. The F1, in my opinion, has a much better design than the RAT. That ridiculous choil on the RAT is the antithesis of good knife handle ergonomics - the F1 on the other hand, doesn't have such a hindrance to effective use on it. About the sheaths, I don't see how the RAT's cordura sheath is any better - if anything, it's a little fragile. The F1 has some options on the sheaths, and the leather ones are the ones you don't want if you intend to do some tip up carry tricks.

The steel on the RAT is good, tried and true 1095. It does rust pretty easily, though. Go with what you feel fits you best. If you're the kind of guy who likes choils on small to medium knives, then go for the RAT. If you're looking for a more practically designed knife, then it's the F1, if you ask me.
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I would have to agree with the sentiment that a knife to fight off mountain lions is not the best idea. Carry a firearm as suggested if legal. If not get a big knife that you can utilize something like a cold steel bushman or the assegai spear that you can mount on a walking stick for protection. for camp duties in arizona get the RAT as you have better length for camp chores and have a better degree of toughness than you do with stainless steel. So I too vote for the RAT.
 
Going to throw in my 2 cents here. Never handled a RC-5 but from looks it's not my cup of tea. I'd rather have an RC-4 or RC-6. The F1 is nice, and you can get custom handles at www.knivesshipfree.com done by BRKT. And at the same site you have a large selection of BRKTs. I'm new to them but can already see the advantages over the RATs, minus the warranty. They're like the F1 with the convex grind, but not laminated VG10, they use A2 tool steel but like you said rust isn't an issue (I live in AZ). I would definitely consider something like a Bravo-1 for a very decent size blade or Bravo-2 for a large blade. The Aurora is supposed to be all about bushcraft and is more or less shaped like a dagger so I'd think good for stabbing those pesky pumas. And there are many others to select from. I may just be making things harder for you.
 
Elen's post was perfectly reasoned, but I do not necessarily agree with the premise that using a choil compromises ergonomics. When I work with my RAT Cutlery RC4, finger in the choil, I have no ergonomics issue--I find the front face of the handle, intersecting the choil, to be a perfectly comfortable place to firmly grasp the tool (thank you RAT Cutlery), and there is no getting any closer to the blade than allowed by the choil which, as Elen points out, maximizes precision. That said, knife buyers would do well to apply Elen's logic, but not all choils/handles are made alike, so you HAVE to try it.
 
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